Storyteller Ilene Evans to present Anansi Stories at RCCAC

The Randolph County Community Arts Center welcomes acclaimed storyteller Ilene Evans to the Great Hall Stage this Saturday, May 3 at 7 PM.   Evans will present the West African folktales of Anansi as the final show in the RCCAC 2007-2008 Children’s Concert Series. 

Evans, a performer with the unique ability to interact, entertain and teach audiences of all ages, will share stories about the clever, lively, cunning, and sometimes, greedy, Anansi, a well-known character in Western African cultures and oral traditions. These legends depict Anansi as a scoundrel who cause mischief but in the end he always brings everyone closer to the truth and to each other.   According to Evans  “people laugh and cry with Anansi because he is a lot like us.”

Evans is an international storyteller, singer, and actress with a repertoire rich in multi-cultural traditions and historical characters.  She has performed at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, as well as many areas of the United States. Evans makes her home in Thomas, West Virginia, where she is the Artistic Director of Voices from the Earth Academy and serves as a movement specialist, choreographer, vocalist, and storyteller in a variety of drama workshops and programs with youth.   She has a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from Trinity College and is listed on the Artist Roster of the West Virginia Arts in Education Program. Regarding her many programs, Ilene says, “one of our most important tasks is to transmit the joy and richness of the spoken word to students. Studies have shown that students who are exposed to narrative and oral language are apt to become better readers and writers. When kids are inspired to become more effective communicators, everyone stands to benefit.” 

According to RCCAC Executive Director Beth King, "the Children's Concert Series provides families a wonderful opportunity to share live performance with their children at a very affordable price right here in our own community. Almost all of the Children's Series events are interactive concerts and performances – we want the children to be engaged and involved with the experience."

The Randolph County Community Arts Center, a non-profit organization promoting and supporting the arts in Randolph County and surrounding areas, is located at the corner of Randolph Avenue and Park Street in Elkins.  Tickets for the Ilene Evans Saturday evening performance are $5 per person for all ages or $20 per family (2 adults and up to 4 children) and are available in the RCCAC office or at the door beginning at 6:30 PM on the night of the performance. Refreshments will be provided by the RCCAC volunteers at the conclusion of the performance.  Call the RCCAC office at 637-2355 or log onto www.randolpharts.org for more information.

The Children’s Concert Series at the Randolph County Community Arts Center is locally sponsored by Allegheny Insurance, Allegheny Power, Davis Health System, The Inter-Mountain, WDNE Radio, and Graceland Inn & Conference Center. This project is also partially supported with financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.